Water Pipe Replacement, No Trench

Repairing a broken water pipe from inside the house using the Roddie Inc. Basement Buddy® Directional Drill.

[@curtissmith5875]

Nice work!

[@rwksummit]

Nice job guys

[@Trainman0401]

You guys are very neat workers. Nice job!

[@julielowe7462]

I’m in the UK, and I have not seen a drilling rig that compact before, our moles are normally moderate sized plant operated outside the property, this is very neat, I would be interested to know what kind of soil structure you’re drilling into here, nice work guys - Julie

[@herowillrose3198]

Great job with vacuum and water controlling dust from cement and concrete wall.

[@donnierobertson3088]

Nice job and video

[@dirtyface091]

nice job 👍🏼👍🏼

[@freekingawwsome]

Nice work

[@pedromartinez538]

Good job and clean up work guys keep it up. 👍

[@johnguilfoyle3073]

Montana. That explains the depth of the meter box. I'm in South Carolina where the Frost Line is shallow.

[@rustyshakleford5230]

Its like a fisherprice oil rig. I want one.

[@slickbelge]

how do you guys secure the pipe pusher in place? bolts to to floor?

[@cpmiller1965]

Dude running the boring machine is clutch. Love those steady hardworking crews that know their trade. Yeah sounds like a lot, however, running a business is not cheap, and look at all the overhead costs. Think of the days the job goes sideways and ends up being a 2 day job....

[@Exclusive_Criminal]

I do similar work only with big drills. That’s a neat little drill. Nice soil to drill in and steer.

[@user-vt2vd4ek4b]

Can you use any pipe like pex from the main outside not Cor per I’m in MI

[@burningdust]

Would the two pits in the front not sink down over the next few years?

[@DumbCarGuy]

You guys should buy those Grey Aluminum pipe wrenches, half the weight.

[@donmarion8808]

What about rebar in the basement walls?

[@tawficyakubu5116]

Please what is the instrument name you put at the Conner?

[@centralplumbing]

What machine is that and what sizes does it do?

[@campnut6076]

Great video, always wondered how I would replace my waterline that runs under my huge deck without ripping the deck apart. Guess if you got the $$$ there's a way.

[@billpetersen298]

I did the same, without the big money. Pushed a cable through the old water pipe, to where it was dug, and cut. Next to the meter, at the street. With a come along, and some chains, across the crawl space. Pulled the old pipe out, along with the new line, and a ground wire. The most difficult part, was the connection points.

[@billpetersen298]

Ok ok, vacuumed a string with cotton balls, tied to a rope, tied to a cable.

[@JONSBIGBEAR]

I did similar,drill 4 in diamond thru wall than homemade bit thru 20ft long than hammered 3in pvc all the way to my well 6ft deep right on money in 5hrs lol

[@campnut6076]

@@JONSBIGBEAR I often wondered when I had to do it if fastening new pipe to old one and pulling it under the ground with a hoist would work. I'm sure some day it will need replaced.

[@rbhe357]

My dad needed his supply line replaced last fall. Was sorta hoping to see a rig like this. Instead a crew of 4 "non-english" speaking guys showed up with shovels. 6 hours later they were covering the new line with dirt. A bit over half what these guys charged.

[@samuelfratto6299]

Hi guys nice work. What happens if the drill head hits a big rock?

[@8000RPM.]

WOW!

[@Halifaxbomber2]

Another 10 minutes of video and you could have shown us making connections and setting meter pit. The drilling was cool.

[@bekzatsyzdykov1938]

Как с вами связаться? Можно ли купить этот станок

[@stevebabiak6997]

When the replacement pipe got hooked onto the bore, there should have been mention made about the wire that was being run alongside of the pipe, to allow for the utility service location detection equipment.

[@marcosmota1094]

Core drilling to start would be way faster and would allocate the right part for the specific job.

[@edwo6648]

6700.00 "not bad money for six hours" and 200K in equipment.

[@ericjohnson9468]

EXACTLY… & INSURANCE…

[@kerrytodd3753]

People have no clue……

[@edwo6648]

@@kerrytodd3753 I agree.

[@jeffbartunek2107]

I see the ladder and by that depth you should have cave-in protection. Do you use shoring or a trench Box.

[@chadchad9407]

right

[@786otto]

Crazy rules miter in ground on front of the house ? in my town miter is inside the house fifi connected to it , if you have a drip in the house city will send you a mail to let you know about it. Replaced a water line to a house hire a labor to dig a ditch about 35 feet, when i comeback with his lunch he was almost done, no fancy equipment necessary.

[@gary851]

neat

[@abdullahnadeem9572]

What's price of it???

[@teekay1785]

they said $6700

[@johnpietros9439]

What happens if you hit a large rock

[@teekay1785]

dril

[@bjre.wa.8681]

Good equipment no doubt. I'm wondering how many septic tanks that holes punched in them and drain field pipe; irrigation pipes and un mapped power and communications conduits that have holes in them courteous of the borers? Yes I know all that is supposed to charted out previously, but..... I'll bet some pensioners spent half their savings for a operation on a home they may only occupy for a couple more years.

[@stevebabiak6997]

@@bjre.wa.8681 - utility location services exist to mark places where they are buried. If you noticed, they had to trench on both sides of the concrete sidewalk; that is sometimes done to confirm whether any utilities might be in the way. The one side needed to have a trench because that is where it ties in to the water main. Another thing, that I pointed out in another comment, is that this new water line being PEX will have a wire running along the entire length to allow the utility location service to identify that water line’s location should there be a need for any future excavation.

[@rupe53]

@@bjre.wa.8681 ... did my water line a few years ago and not only do you have to contact "call before you dig" but in order to pull a permit for the job I has to supply a plot map showing septic and other things. National code says 10 feet from a septic so plenty of fudge room even for a novice installer. In areas where other utilities are obviously above ground it makes things easy. (just look up)

[@Elkmonger]

That step in the foundation I'm very familiar with. When I was young a couple of my buddies and I dug out our parents basement to make them a "full" basement. The older houses in town had about a 5' tall basement and we'd dig them out inside the existing foundation then form it up and pour concrete. You'll know it was one of our jobs because we used old doors (from garbage picking night) to form out the concrete. I guess our parents didn't want to spend any extra money. I can't believe the physical labor I was capable of 34 years ago. The top about 6 inches of those old dirt floor basement was TIGHT.

[@mrmotofy]

Yep, now we're older and smarter haha

[@rupe53]

@@mrmotofy ... these days we go to Home Depot's parking lot and look for day labor. $100 per head and lunch buys a lot of guys. Might cost more if they have to bring their own tools.

[@Elkmonger]

@@rupe53 This goes back about 15 years I had a friend (he died young about 60 then I was 35) he was from South Africa and he had a business dealing with kelp. He was talking about inland salt water ponds and the pipes that bring the ocean water inland. I asked how they excavated the pipes he said by hand and showed me a picture. I shit you not there were two rows of men standing shoulder to shoulder for what looked like 200 yards out into the surf. They'd dig like crazy and burry the pipe. Me being naive I said wow how long ago was THAT!? He says about three or four years ago just before we moved.

[@rupe53]

@@Elkmonger ... along the same lines, but years before (1824 to be exact) there was a crew in the Catskill mountains of NY building a summer retreat. The first task was was to build a railway up the mountain from the Hudson River. The next task was a 400 room hotel made of wood. The person telling the story for a local historical society was the great great granddaughter of a gal who was in charge of feeding the workers, which numbered close to 800 at a time. I have forgotten how long the task took but I have been to the property and seen what's left of the hotel foundation. Amazing what 800 guys can do!

[@derrickanderson2783]

There's good reason why you're called "the greatest generation.." Now young adults don't want to show up for work til 9:30 and only if they're having a good day...

[@skliros9235]

Did he say that big water heater looking tank is a meter??

[@rupe53]

skliros ... that's called the "meter pit" and it's basically a large pipe (18" diameter?) that stands up in the hole. They come with pre-bent pipes installed to go from the buried pipes up to a point where the meter is installed, then back down below the frost level and out to the street. When finished they place a cast iron cover on top and it's flush with the lawn or sidewalk. Believe it or not that empty cavity retains enough ground heat that they never freeze up even though the meter is only about a foot below grade.

[@skliros9235]

@@rupe53 ah. Interesting. Around here they just put the meters inside

[@rupe53]

@@skliros9235 ... funny you should mention that. 25 years ago we put a water line in my folk's house and the meter went inside. 5 years ago at my home it went outside. Same water company so obviously things are changing.

[@jelinektreeservice]

A lot of municipalities are trying to put them outside now. Easier to fix if needed without having to arrange a time to come in the house.

[@TheShockLoad]

My luck i would jack the threads up.

[@er.8695]

👍✋

[@diveinnjim]

someone get that man a pair of gloves, jeez

[@chrish2685]

Not bad money for 6 hours work! Dig it yourself or invest in the gear if the price hurts you that much then!

[@mikeb610]

No trench...........as they dig one 😂

[@teekay1785]

Worth $2,000 to $2500 at most in my opinion. How much landscaping would even have been affected?!!

[@edwardcomiskey6556]

Traditional way would be twice what he charged.

[@dustinbasurto7371]

Also I believe they mentioned a local regulation, my county doesn't like the traditional trenching as well.

[@waterdesign6647]

Just that easy.... be cheaper to get cheap labor. You have prob 100,000 in equipment to pay for. Payroll, and when it goes bad, it really goes bad. In irrigation for 30 years.

[@rupe53]

sprinks sprinkks ... might have been a toss up on this job but they can do the same for a 100 ft and then it's a serious savings. You also have to consider what it's like to dig a trench under a porch and sidewalk. This might have been faster, even for a short run.

[@plootow1622]

Just over $1k for every hour of total 6 hours. Not bad.

[@mrmotofy]

Yep and it only takes $75k + in equipment sitting there and $5-600 in labor for a couple of guys or more. And one can make a little bit of money

[@Ashroyer86]

@@mrmotofy no business is paying their guys that. Not where I'm at. Here they want you to pay them to work for them.

[@mrmotofy]

@@Ashroyer86 Idk where you are but Union plumbers where I am are $30-35 x 6hrs onsite + 30min drive to + 30min drive is almost $300 per man for that job. Plus the unseen costs the business pays like health insurance, unemployment workman's comp 401k etc usually add up to equal the hourly pay. So $60-70/hr costs to the company per employee then they bill $150/hr per man...that's typical plumbing Co.

[@willbonilla294]

Co. location?? NY?? # to call. Do you have info. If any Co. Does dacsamebin NY?? Any info would be appreciated.

[@mohdafzal9370]

Indiya

[@mohdafzal9370]

Send me number

[@1964davidsable]

6700? Wow I did my mom's place (duplex) 2 lines. It made since to do both even though only one line had a leak. One day me and one other guy hand dug 60ft. $350.00 total cost. 2 lines

[@tractor9391]

not 6 feet deep you didn't .

[@1964davidsable]

@@tractor9391 You only have to dig to the frost line in most states by code. In Texas that's only about 8" inches. My state it's 20" inches.

[@pashad3681]

Guys it’s not about time. The machines are super expensive to buy and maintain.

[@tractor9391]

i know , you got to oil the chain !!!

[@hyperion112]

What is a one-day rental for a mini excavator and a mini horizontal drilling machine? Maybe $1000 so that leaves $5700 for the labor?? Obviously, if they own the machines that cost would be even less. Trade prices are getting out of control.

[@SovaKlr]

No way I'd trust a hook. Sure, it would work most of the time. But you ever push a pipe forward either by accident or on purpose and it could come undone. Not worth the time savings of just screwing on a clevis or something.

[@chadchad9407]

Over kill for a water line.. I would dug at the side walk and 5 feet and front of home 5 feet then trenched it 16 inches from the sidewalk to the home.. I would of used type L copper.

[@cpcattin]

No trench and the video starts with two trenches.

[@Roddie4321]

you know nothing

[@hyperion112]

@@Roddie4321 So those long narrow and deep holes are not called trenches?? What are they called?

[@tractor9391]

there called pits. there is always so many morons looking for anything negative to comment on.

[@tractor9391]

pits needed to install the water meter and city connection,

[@andyscott5978]

Oh dear, I think someone hit a nerve.

[@taekwondotime]

So the water "pipe" is just a bendable plastic garden hose, not an actual pipe? That thing will get crushed/pinched under the weight of the dirt and rocks.

[@josiahm6321]

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

[@taekwondotime]

​@@josiahm6321 Well one thing I do know is that where I live, the CITY is responsible for installing the water pipe from the street to the house, and they don't use flexible garden hose tubing to do it. They put a solid, rigid, pipe from the house to the street. (Which is also what they put for all of the other pipes in the city.) So who am I going to believe? The CITY (that installs the pipes for tens of thousands of homes in my city) or an independent contractor who does it for a handful of homes using a "trenchless" technique? Exactly. Incidentally, it wouldn't have taken any longer to dig a trench from the house to the street and just lay the pipe in. That's how the city does it where I live, and it doesn't take them six hours to do it. Carry on!

[@tjwiersma4406]

@@taekwondotime It is pretty much industry standard that Pex is approved for underground service entrance. I have PEX running to my shop 8 ft underground. The advantage to trenchless technology, while it does take nearly as long, the cost of relandscaping an entire yard is eliminated.

[@teekay1785]

large culverts are also plastic lines and bend under their own weight . The arch shape is the most Ancient way of dealing with loads.

[@taekwondotime]

​@@tjwiersma4406 Interesting. Here where I live, the city just makes the trench, puts in the pipe, fills it in, and puts sod down to repair the lawn. I don't have to pay for any of it. :)